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Giants sign Buster Posey to nine-year contract

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Press Release |

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The San Francisco Giants and Buster Posey have reached an agreement on a nine year contract (eight year extension) through 2021 with an option for the 2022 season, club Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian Sabean announced today. The deal covers his three remaining years of arbitration and five years of free agency. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

“The success of our franchise depends on developing and retaining homegrown talent like Buster Posey,” said President and Chief Executive Officer, Larry Baer. “Buster’s work ethic, leadership skills and extraordinary talent represent all that is great about our game and what it means to be a San Francisco Giant. “I want to commend Brian Sabean, Bobby Evans, Buster and his representatives for their hard work to keep Buster in a Giants uniform for an extended period of time. This is an exciting day for Giants fans everywhere and a fantastic way to kick off the 2013 season.”

“This is a great day for Buster, for the Giants and for our fans everywhere,” said Sabean. “Buster is an integral part of the team and his leadership and ability to produce offensively and play solid defense behind the plate makes him one of the most valuable and exciting players in either league. I have no doubt Buster will achieve continued success for the Giants in the coming years and beyond.”

Posey, who just turned 26 years old this past Wednesday, has had one of the greatest starts to a career in Major League history. In his first three seasons in the big leagues, Posey has helped lead the Giants to two championships, he’s won a Rookie of the Year award (2010), a batting title (2012), was named Comeback Player of the Year (2012) and earned the NL’s Most Valuable Player Award (2012). Just 308 games into his Major League career, Posey has also won a Silver Slugger (2012) and the Hank Aaron Award as the league’s best offensive player (2012).

An All-Star for the first time last season, Posey hit .336 with 24 home runs and 103 RBI for the Giants, after missing most of 2011 with an injury. He became the fifth catcher to win the MVP award and the first to win the league’s batting title in 70 years. Posey’s MVP award was just the 10th won by a San Francisco Giant and he also joined Willie Mays and Willie McCovey as the only Giants to win Rookie of the Year and an MVP.

The Leesburg, Georgia native was selected by the Giants in the first round (fifth pick overall) in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. In just over three big league seasons, Posey has posted a career batting average of .314 with 46 home runs and 191 RBI. The Giants have gone 133-98 (.576) when Posey is the starting catcher and his catcher ERA of 3.36 over the past three seasons is the best in baseball.